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Pres./CEO Gary Wolsky: Support in Arizona encouraging

Below is a letter from Village President/CEO Gary Wolsky. He discusses the support The Village has in Arizona and his visit to that state.

Dear friends,

Greetings from Arizona! I’ve been here for a couple of weeks now, kicking off my visit by attending the annual North Dakota Picnic in Mesa, which has, for years, been led by The Village. The picnic, which helps connect the sizable community of North Dakotans in Arizona, dates back years even before our involvement. I think that fact reflects the value that people from our region place on relationships and maintaining connectedness as friends, family, and community members even when they’re miles from home.

In addition to connecting with people at the picnic, I’ve also been visiting with other groups and donors, sharing The Village’s message and it’s needs, as well as the challenges faced by those we serve. The conversations are encouraging. A number of people in my discussions here have shared the fact that, because of their belief in our work, they have included The Village in their estate planning and are supporting us through their current giving. And, along with the financial support I learn about, it’s also encouraging to hear about their interest and love for the work of The Village. I find the better and more people know about us, the more likely they are to support us, and that’s a big part of what this visit is about.

Of course, on a personal note, it’s been great to visit with old friends and talk about what we’re doing. And there are worse times of the year for a North Dakotan to take a trip southward. I’ve always been grateful that we don’t have an event like this in Winnipeg in March